The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-25
WALKER vs.. FRIPP.
Unexpected Result of a Great
Libel Suit.

There is nothing in life easier than to edit
newspaper A little knowledge of the
world, nice critical perception, a pen equal
to any emergency--these are the only indis-
pensable qualifications. So, at least think
many people who dabbe in literature; and
so thought DR.. julius Fripp, when, after
contributing for many years to one period
zeal and another, he invested all his availa-
Die funds In the purchase of the Spectator
newspaper, and installed himself in the ed
itor's chair.
Strange TO say, the result did not alto
gether correspond with DR.. Fripp's expec-
tations. The Spectator had been originally
started as an organ of advanced thought.
but at the time DR.. Fripp appeared on the
scene it had all but specialized itself out of
existence The Doctor (Fripp had picked up
degree early in life during a solourn IN
Germany, and always made point of wear
ing it) saw that the title of the paper was
as applicable to commerce as to philosophy,
and he accordingly started the Spectator
on new basis as financial journal and
guide for investors. He introduced into at
at the same time many novel and striking
journalistic ideas, which might have been
expected to make the fortune of any
newspaper. The public, however took no
better to the new Spectator than to the old.
The advertisements kept the paper afloat
for time lit is an astonishing thing
how long advertisers will remain faithful
TO paper which nobody reads); but the
circulation fell lower and lower, until at
last DR.. Fripp perceived that, unless vital
ity could be restored somehow, his editorial
days were numbered. In this extremitv
only one hope suggested itself to him, and
that was fresh blood, coupled with fresh
funds Actuated by this idea, the doctor
one day madeit known through the columns
of the Times that an admirable opportunity
occurred for gentleman with from 95C0
to $1,000 to assist in developing an old
established newspaper, certain to yield a
lucrative return.
The answers were more numerous than
satisfactory The writer's offered expert
ence, ability and even genius, some gratis,
some on highly eXorbitant terms; but
capital, somehow, held aloof. After going
through all his answers, the Doctor could
only see one which looked at all like bust
ness, and that was a laconic epistle which
simply requested an interview for the pur-
pose of discussing details. There could,
at any rate, be no harm IN seeing this cor
respondent; so Fripp wrote and made the
desired appointment.
Fripp's surprise the card which was handed
in bore name which was quite familiar to
him, though he had never yet met the
owner Of it. The name was that of Mr..
Silas 2. Walker, citizen of the United
States, and known to DR.. Fripp as the prin-
cipal, if not the sole proprietor Of "Watha,
the Great Indian Remedy" This famous
medicine had lately been introduced to the
notice Of the British public by every means
known to the art of the advertiser; and
the -Speculdtor, among other newspapers,
had assisted in making it's virtues known
to the world. To tell the truth, the Doctor
had been for some time past doing his best
to get in an amount of some go odd due tC
him for advertisements of the Great Indian
Remedy. This made him all the more sur
prised to see his visitor.
81 had better tell you at once, Mr.
Walker" he said, ''that unless you are pre-
pared to advance or find the amount named
in my advertisement, our interview will be
q waste of time.'
''Dont be in too much of hurry, Mr.
Fripp," replied the American, cody. "Now
suppose was to tell you that have got ar
idea which,
So curse ldeasp' replied the editor
with pardonable Impotence, for he felt thai
he had much larger stock of the article
on hand than he could find any market for
81 ask for cash, and every fool in Londor
OFFERS me ideas'
''May be-" responded Mr.. Walker, will
no trace of annoyance. "But bet no foopi
Deep Offering you an idea like mine"
''Perhaps not. But, for the present
please understand that / consider mysel
competent to conduct my own paper liz m.
own way"